UN Moldova marks with awards outstanding achievements in human rights in 2017

“Today we celebrate people and organizations that have shown courage, creativity and perseverance in promoting human rights in the Republic of Moldova. Also in December, the United Nations and the whole world start a one-year campaign to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights marked on 10 December 2018. So, the coming year gives everyone the opportunity to make the world, including the Republic of Moldova, a place where every human being enjoys his full rights. It is our common duty to do everything we can to make the promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights come true!”, said Desiree Jongsma, the UN Resident Coordinator a.i. and UNICEF Representative in the Republic of Moldova.

Therefore, the 2017 edition included six awards and a special mention for major achievements in the area of human rights:

1.    Veaceslav Turcan, for promoting respect for civil and political rights and professional training of lawyers from Moldova, including those from the left bank of the Nistru river;

2.    Maia Taran, for remarkable courage in combating gender-based violence by empowering women and girls at local and national level;

3.    Maria Scorodinschi, for remarkable courage in combating gender-based violence by empowering women and girls at local and national level;

4.    Maxim Melinti, for an inclusive approach and combating stereotypes in his daily work;

5.    The Online News Portal NewsMaker, for pro-active approach, objectivity, accuracy and consistency in addressing human rights issues;

6.    The Arts Centre “Coliseum”, for exceptional work on educating minors and adults through theatre, as well as informing and raising awareness about the sexual abuse of minors, violence against women and children, and about the life of detainees;

7.    "Radio Patrin Moldova", special mention, for a promising start, perseverance, originality and unique style of approaching the rights of Roma people through radio.

The award winners were selected following an open competition in which 72 applications were submitted. Nominations were subsequently examined by a technical committee of experts, which includes representatives of civil society. The criteria used in evaluation included creativity, perseverance, dedication and courage proven in promoting human rights and impact of these actions on human lives. At the next stage, a Board of 6 representatives of the UN, human rights institutions, development partners and representetives of civil society approved the awards.

2017 was a special year for the Republic of Moldova in terms of human rights. During this year, the Republic of Moldova was revised by five major UN committees on progress made in the implementation of 5 international human rights treaties. In 2017, Moldova has developed its new National Human Rights Action Plan, based on the recommendations of these revisions, as well as the universal periodic review of 2016. Also, this year, the UN and Moldova signed the new strategic cooperation document for the next 5 Years – “Partnership Framework for Sustainable Development 2018–2022”. A document based on fundamental human rights and the principle of "leaving no one behind".

Moreover, in the year 2017 there were a number of important progresses in the field of human rights, such as a good start in deinstitutionalization of people with disabilities from psycho-neurological institutions, the adoption of the action plan towards implementation of the Strategy on consolidation of interethnic relations, and many others.